Power press of steel and concrete



April 30, 1935. G. R. MEYERCORD Er Al. 1,999,249

POWER PRESS OF STEEL AND CONCRETE .pll 30, 1935- I G. R. MEYERCORD ErAI.1,999,249

POWER PRESS OF STEEL AND CONCRETE Filed July 18, 1932 .5 sheets-sheet 2I EI April 30, 1935. GgR. MEYERCORD l-:rAL .1,999,249

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l 'April 30,` 1935. G. R. MEYERCORD Er AL 1,999,249

POWER PRESS OF STEEL AND CONCRETE Filed July 18, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 7fz @it/2y. 4 f5 f..

G. R. MEYx-:RCORD Er AL 1,999,249

POWER PRESS OF STEEL AND CONCRETE April 3o, 1935.

Filed July 18, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITEDSTATES Evanst Rapids, Mich., assignors, by mcsne assi on, Ill., andCharles B. Norris, Grand i w: ents,

eral corporation Application July 18, 1932, Serial No. 623,182

8 Claims.

The present invention relates to power presses composed of structuralsteel or the like and reinforced concrete, and has for its object tosimplify and improve presses of this type.

In our Patent No. 1,907,083, we have disclosed a press composed ofstructural steel elements and concrete, whereby it is possible cheaplyto produce very large presses and particularly presses havingwork-engaging faces of very `large area; and, lviewed in one of itsaspects, the present invention may be said to have for its object tosimplify and improve the construction of the press disclosed in thatpatent. The frame of the press in thel aforesaid patent is a monolith ofconcrete reinforced in such a manner that, when the press is closed onthe work, the metal, reinforcing elements are in tension, and musttherefore have suflicient tensile strength'to carry the entire load. Inaccordance with the 2o present invention, the load is also carriedy bymetal elements in tension, but the metal constitutes the frame of thepress rather than serving as reinforcing means for a body of concrete;the concrete serving only to transmit the load to the upper and lowerend sections of the metal structure, in such a manner that these endsections'will be in tension;

Therefore, viewed in. one of its aspects, the present invention may besaid to have for `its object to produce a simple and novel frame for a'power press formed ofa metal'shell and top and bottom blocks of concretearranged within the shell; the whole being so shaped and proportionedthat the blocks of concrete resist the thrusts upon work in the pressand transmit the same to the metal strdbture in a manner to place themetal structurein tension.

The variousfeatures of noveltyv whereby our invention isA characterizedwill hereinafter be 10 pointed' out with particularity in theclaims;but, forja full vunderstanding of our invention and of l its objects andadvantages, reference may be had to the following detaileddescriptiontaken in con' nection with the accompanying drawings, where-Figure 1 is a'front elevation oi a pre's'sembodying the presentinvention, including thatportion lying below the floor of the `room orother place in which the press has been set up, the carriagesupportingbeams being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a side view of the press; Fig. 3isa section on line M of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a section on line dof Fig. 3;Fig. 5 is a section on the same plane as Fig. 4, illustrating on alarger scale a small frag- 5 ment of the press; and Fig. 6 is a sectionon line (Cl. 14d-281) 6-6 of Fig. 2, that portion of one of thecarriagesupporting beams extending through the interior of the pressbeing omitted.

Referring to the drawings, i is a heavy steel plate fashioned into ashell open at the front and rear ends, having semi-cylindrical'top andbottom sectionsz and 3 joined by parallel vertical side sections 4 and 5tangential to the semicylindrical sections. The work-receiving space in`this frame or shell is therefore as long as the width of the metalplate and as wide as the diameter of the semi-cylindrical end sections.Each of these two dimensions maybe made large so that Work'lO feet ormore wide and'lO feet or more long may be operated upon'by the press. Inspeaking of a plate we do not mean an element initially -ln one piece oreven in what may be regarded as a'single piece in the flnishedpress',for the shell may be composed of any desired number of individual piecessuitably unitedinto endless bands or strips. Furthermore, the shell maybe made of a plurality of sections placed side by side, each sectionconsistingA of semi-cylindricalend portions and parallel side portions.Ii vthe shell is made o f a plurality of sections placed side by side,these sections may be'secured together or not. In any event, it will beapparent that a press ci any desired size may be .constructed by simplyproviding aplate or plates of the proper length and width.

In order to secure a maximum of strength for a given weight of metal, weprefer to provide the shell with a series oi ribs extending around thesame in the manner of hoops. In the arrangement shown, the ribs arestructural steel elements, L- shaped in cross section. One ange 6 ofeach rib lies in contact with the vexterior surface of the shell, whilethe other ange l projects outwardly at right angles to the surface ofthe shell.- 'I'he ribs are preferably arranged in pairs, being made inrights and lefts, so that the anges 'l of each pair may lie beside eachother while the flanges t of each pair extend in opposite directions.VThe projecting flanges of the ribs. of each pair are `preferably spacedapart somewhat to provide be- ',tween the same a passage wide enough toreceive spacing plates t distributed at intervals around theshell andpreferably welded to the anges between which they lie. 'Where jointsmust occur in a rib; .they are -preferablyzformed by placing alongspacingfplat'e so aste-overlap the meeting ends andweldingthisspacingplate' securely to such meeting ends.-".l'hus,inFig.,l, there,i"sshown a long spacing plate t at theextreme-top fottlie press, to unite two rib sections meeting along theline I 0.

In addition to the ribbed shell just described, all that is needed tocomplete the press are oppositely disposed work-engaging members andmeans, including pressure-producing means, to transmit the load to theshell. We have therefore fitted into the troughs of the upper and lowersemi-cylindrical sections of the shell semi-cylindrical blocks orreinforced concrete whose fiat faces are parallel and directed towardeach other. One of these fiat faces, preferably the lower one, we haveto support the work, whereas pressure is applied to the work by powermeans interposed between the latter and the other of said at faces,preferably and usually the upper face.

In the ,drawings the upper and lower semicylindrical concrete blocks areindicated at I2 and I3, respectively.

The upper semi-cylindrical block I2 has a downward extension in whichare embedded deep structural beams I4 extending across the shell fromone side to the other; there being preferably one of these beams in theplane of each double rib surrounding the shell. 'Ihe beams I4 are notfastened to the shell, but simply rest at their ends upon little shelvesI5, I5 welded to and projecting inwardly from the plate member of theshell. The beams are somewhat shorter than the interior width of theshell, so that they may be spaced apart from the shell at both ends.Each of the beams I4 has securedthereto at each end two angle irons I6;one ange of each of the members I6 lying against the vertical web of thebeam and the other projecting laterally at right angles to the web. Themembers I6 serve as anchors to hold the beams against endwise movementin the concrete.

The upper block of concrete is formed by first placing in position thecross beams I4, the transverse reinforcing rods I1, extending across thetops of the beams I4 and also in a semi-circular row near the innersurface of the shell, and a group of reinforcing rods I8 bent into theform of semi-circles and lying 'in the space between the semi-circularrow of rods I1 and the shell; placing in position a suitable formextending underneath the cross beams and over the open sides or ends atthe top of the shell; and then pouring concrete through openings I9placed at intervals in the semi-cylindrical section 2 of the shell.

The lower block I3 is formed in much the same way as the uppersemi-cylindrical block, reinforcing rods 2I and 22, corresponding to therods I1 and I8, and heavy structural steel beams 23, corresponding tothe beams I4, being placed in position, and the concrete being thenpoured from above.

'Ihe upper face of the lower concrete block I3, in the constructionshown, is adapted to support the work in the press and therefore,because of the large size of the press, it is desirable that thework-supporting surface be level with the floor A, so that a truck orcarriage on which the work is being transported may be run directly intothe press from the floor. It is therefore desirable that the lowerportion of the press be sunk below the iloor level. It is also, ofcourse, necessary to provide a solid support for thehigh, heavy press.In the arrangement shown, the press is firmly supported with the flatface of the lower concrete block level with the floor by a suitablefoundation. This foundation is shown as taking the form of a pit sunkbelow the floor level and through the upper edges thereof to aconsiderable v distance below the fioor level, in order that feet 26,26, fixed to the sides of the shell at the lower ends of the verticalportions thereof, may rest on the upper faces of these walls or in suchseats and support the steel structure in just the right position tobring the oor of the press ush with the surrounding floor level when theconcrete is poured. The semi-cylindrical bottom section 3 of the shellis also provided with holes 2l similar: to the holes or openings I9 inthe upper section. Therefore, when the concrete is poured, it will rundown through these holes and fill the space within the pit below thesemi-cylindrical shell, as indicated at 28. Consequently, the pressframe, including the semi-cylindrical block, rests in a semi-cylindricalsaddle or seat and is also sup ported by the feet or projections 26 onopposite sides thereof.

As in the press of the aforesaid application, we prefer that thepressure shall be applied to the work through a suitable platen movableup and down within' the opening in the press. Because of the largetransverse dimensions that a platen of v this kind must have, we preferto form it of reinforced concrete, as indicated at 29. Furthermore, theplaten is set at its lower end in a frame 30 of structural steel. Inorder to give the desired strength and rigidity to the platen, we preferto embed within the lower end thereof a series of structural steelbeams, preferably I-beams, such as indicated at 32.

The frame 30 is made longer than the platen and also longer than themetal shell, so that it projects at its ends beyond the open ends orsides of lthe shell. What may be termed` the front and rear elements ofthe frame 30, which are those members lying in front of and in rear ofthe press, are extended laterally in both directions, as indicated at33, so as to overlie hydraulic rams 34, 34 disposed at the four cornersof the press. These hydraulic rams may conveniently be set upon suitablepiers 35, 35 rising from the foundation or floor surrounding the press.By energizing the rams the platen may be raised so as to lift it off thework in the press or to provide sufiicient depth of opening in the pressto permit the work to be entered or removed. When the rams aredeenergized, the platen will descend by gravity into engagement with thework. It is desirable that the platen be supported otherwise than by therams or jacks at times when the press is not in use, and we havetherefore provided beside and just outwardly from each of the piers 35 asteel column 36 whose upper end lies somewhat above the upper face ofthe corresponding ram or jack when the plunger in the latter is in itslowermost position. These columns or posts are so located that they liedirectly underneath the projecting ends 33 of the frame 30. Therefore,when the platen is lowered far enough, its supporting frame will come torest upon the columns or posts, leaving the rams free.

In using the press, the work is set on the block I3 and the platen islowered until it rests on the work. The platen is then forced down bymeans of power devices interposed between the top of the platen and theupper block I2; the power devices being distributed across the lengthand breadth of the platen. The power devices conveniently consist ofhydraulic jacks having cylinders 3l and plungers 38, the jacks beingsupported by a carriage 39. The carriage has wheels 40 running on rails42 extending along the tops of horizontal beams `43 arranged in thepress opening above the platen. The beams 43 project far out beyond oneside of the press to permit the carriage to be rolled out clear of thepress.Y These beams may be supported in any suitable way as, forexample, by vertical beams 44 fixed to the frame 'at the four verticalcorners, and a pair of vertical columns 45 at the outer ends of thebeams. As best shown in Fig.y 6, the columns 45 are placed outwardlyfrom the beams 43, the adjacent ends of the beams being connectedtogether by a cross piece 46 which is long enough to span the spacebetween the columns 45. The carriage may be operated by a suitable motor46' mounted thereon and geared to one of the axles 41 of the carriage.

It. Will be seen that the thrust of the jacks that produce the pressureon the work in the press is distributed across the length and thebreadth of the upper pressure-resisting surface, so lthat themain'stresses to which-the upper concrete block is subjected arecompression stresses which the concrete is well adapted to withstand.The thrust of this block upon the frame is applied in such a manner,however, that the frame is in tension. A similar effect is produced bythe downward pressure of the work on the lower pressureresisting facewhen the area of contact between the work and this face is large; thelower concrete block being uder compression and the lower part of theframe being in tension. The great value of our invention lies, however,in the fact that powerful presses having Work-engaging faces of largearea may be manufactured at a comparatively low cost because all partsthereof,

excepting only the hydraulic jacks or rams, maybe constructed ofstructural steel andy concrete.

While we have illustrated and described with particularity only a singlepreferred form of our invention, we do not desire to be limited to theexact structural details thus illustrated and described; but intend tocover all forms and arrangements which come within the definitions ofour invention constituting the appended claims, wherein the Work plateis used in the sense heretofore explained.

We claim:

1. In a press, a frame comprising an endless plate fashioned to formupper and lower semicylindrical sections connected by parallel sidesections tangent to the cylindrical sections, hoop-like ribs surroundingthe plate structure in planes transverse to the ax'es of the top andbottom sections, semi-cylindrical, pressure-distributing blocks fittingin the troughs of the top and bottom sections and having parallelpressure-resisting faces on the sides toward each other, vertical beamsfixed to the ends of the side sections of the frame, beams forsupporting' a carriage extending horizontally through the opening in theframe and fixed to and supported bysaid vertical beams, a carriagesupported by the horizontal beams and movable along the latter from aposition within said opening to a position outwardly from the frame, ahorizontal platen in said opening below the horizontal beams, and ramsmounted on said carriage and adapted to engage with the upperpressure-resisting face and with the top of the platen when the carriageis positioned Within said opening and the rams are energized.

2. A press frame comprising semi-cylindrical top and bottom sections andupright side sections tangential and secured to the top and bottomsections,` semi-cylindrical pressure-distributing blocks fitting in thetroughs of the top and bottom sections and having parallelpressure-resisting faces on the sides toward each other, avertically-movable horizontal platen in the opening in the frame,lifting jacks located outside of the frame at the four corners thereof,and rigid members fixed to the platen and projecting outwardly throughthe frame to points above said jacks.

3. A press frame comprising semi-cylindrical top and bottom sections andupright side sections tangential and secured to the top and bottomsections, semi-cylindrical pressure-distributing blocks fitting in thetroughs of the top and bottom sections and having parallelpressure-resisting faces on the sides toward each other, avertically-movable platen in the opening in the frame, means includinglifting jacks out'side of the frame to raise the platen,'and a series ofjacks distributed across the length and breadth of the platen andadapted to engage at one end with the platen and at the other end withthe upper pressure-distributing block.

d. In a press, a frame comprising an endless plate fashioned to formupper and lower curved sections connected by parallelside sectionstangent to the curved sections, hoop-like ribs surrounding the platestructure in planes transverse to the axes of the top and bottomsections, pressure-distributing blocks fitting in the troughs of the topand bottom sections and having parallel pressure-resisting faces on thesides toward each other, vertical beams fixed to the ends of the sidesections of the frame, beams for supporting a carriage extendinghorizontally through the opening in the frame and xed to and supportedby said vertical beams, a carriage movable along said horizontal beamsinto and out of the opening in the frame, and means on the carriage toabut against the upper pressure-distributing block and impose a downwardpressure on work resting upon the lower pressure-distributing block.

5. In a press, a frame comprising curved top and bottom sections andupright side sections tangential and secured to...the top and bottomsections, pressure-distributing blocks fitting in the troughs of the topand bottom sections and having parallel pressure-resisting faces on thesides toward each other, a vertically-movable horizontal platen in theopening in the frame, lifting jacks located outside of the frame at thefour corners thereof, and rigid members xed to the platen and projectingoutwardly through the frame to points above said jaclm.

6. In a press, a frame comprising curved top and bottom sections andupright sidesections tangential and secured to the top and bottomsections, pressure-distributing blocks fitting in the troughs of the topand bottom sections and having parallel pressure-resisting faces on thesides toward each other, a vertically-movable platen in the opening inthe frame, means including lifting jacks outside of the frame to raisethe platen, and a series of jacks distributed across the length andbreadth of the platen and adapted to engage at one end with the platenand at the `other end withthe upper pressure-distributing block.

7. In -a press, a vertical- Ofshaped metal shell, a foundation having atrough-shaped seat in which the lower end of said shell nts and rests,outward projections on the sides of a frame embedded in said foundation,pressure-dishibuting blocks fitted in the troughs of the shell at thetop and at the bottom and having on the sides toward each otherhorizontal pressure-receiving faces, the lower pressure-receiving facebeing in approximately the same plane as the top of the foundation, avertically movable platen in the opening in the shell between saidpressure-receiving faces, and meansinterposed between the upli of saidfaces and the platen to force the platen down.

8. In. a press, a vertical o-shaped metal shell, a foundation having atrough-shaped seat in which the lower endof said shell nts and rests,outward projections on the sides of a frame embeddedl in saidfoundation, pressure-distributing blocks fitted inthe troughs of theshell at the top and at the bottom and having on the sides toward -eachother horizontal pressure-receiving faces,

a vertically movable platen in the opening in the shell between saidpressure-receiving faces, and power means between the platen and one vofsaid faces to force the platen toward the other face.

GEORGE R. MEYERCORD. CLIN H. HASQUIN. CHARLES B. NORRIS.

